Introduction

In order to see your data once it has been moved to IFS, you will need to map your group drives.

Until you have access to the wired network, you will need to access data via the UIS VPN. Please note that working over the VPN is slower and you may experience delays opening and saving files. If they are unacceptably long please report the issue to the CSCS Service Desk including the group drive name, file name, date and time of access and how long it took.

DFS explanation

Using a technology called DFS as outlined below will allow you to see all of your drives and folders together under the same drive letter.

This user has access to many different institutions' data. Each folder can be double clicked to display what group drives are available.

Open

For example, under CNEUROL

Open

And files are visible under each of the folders.

Windows - mapping the DFS path to your group drives

• Connect to the UIS VPN

  • If you need to set it up, see this guide Connecting to the UIS VPN on Windows 11

• Open File Explorer

• Right click on this PC

• Select Map network drive

• select Drive letter

• In the folder field paste in: \\blue.cam.ac.uk\Inst

• Tick reconnect at sign-in and click the Finish button.

When prompted to enter network credentials your computer may default to the vpn credentials you are using (eg crsid+vpn@cam.ac.uk). This will not work. You need to click more choices, select Use a different account, enter your University id (crsid@cam.ac.uk and password), tick remember my credentials.

In this example the E drive shows the 2 IFS projects the tester had access to.

Mapping a group drive on a Mac

• You need to either be connected via the UIS VPN or once the wired network is restored connected via Ethernet to the UIS network

• Click on the Finder icon in the Dock.

• Click on the Go menu and choose Connect to Server or type Command+K

• Type smb://blue.cam.ac.uk/Inst

   

• Click connect

• You will be prompted to enter credentials. Choose Registered User and enter your crsid and password. (If it doesn’t accept your crsid try typing crsid@cam.ac.uk), and tick Remember this password in my keychain and click the Connect button

   

• To add to your favourites hover over the icon of the group drive then click and drag to your favourites in Finder

Troubleshooting

If you do not see your data immediately, restart your computer and check again. Sometimes it is visible immediately, sometimes it needs some time to synchronise and sometimes a PC needs a reboot to force the connection to the data.